he was part of the city, and the city so much a part of him. blunt, outspoken, but also very funny and caring. today the city he loves so much mourns ed koch. he had been in and out of the hospital for the past few months and at his birthday party just last month at new york's gracie mansion said he wakes up every morning thinking thank you god. >> when we were worried, he gave us confidence. when someone needed a good kick in the rear, he gave it to them, and if you remember, he enjoyed it. >> he was relevant up until right now, up until the day he died. i received his e-mails, his movie reviews, his restaurant reviews. you know, he was clearly a major part of new york city life and we're going to miss him. >> shepard: ed koch was selected as mayor during a troubled time during 1977. by his third term in 1989, racial tensions helped contribute to his primary defeat. his lastin lasting legacy, savie city from bankruptcy. >> the city was in a state of short-term debt of $6 billion which we had to eliminate over a four-year period, and we did it